The following lawyers were honored with inclusion in the 2009 Best Lawyers in America publication:

R. Alan Alexander (Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law);
Joseph P. H. Babington (Mass Tort Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation);
Jeffery J. Hartley (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law);
Frederick G. Helmsing (Tax Law; White-Collar Criminal Defense);
Warren C. Herlong, Jr. (Antitrust Law; Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Real Estate Law);
John N. Leach, Jr. (Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation);
James B. Newman (Commercial Litigation);
Robert H. Rouse (Tax Law; Trusts and Estates); and
A. Edwin Stuardi, III (Medical Malpractice Law; Commercial Litigation).

Fred Helmsing has been listed in the Best Lawyers publication for over 10 years, and John Leach has been listed for over 20 years.

Firm shareholder, John N. Leach, has become President of the Mobile Bar Association for 2009. He most recently served as Vice President and President-Elect, and he has served in other leadership positions within the Mobile Bar Association in the past. The Mobile Bar Association celebrates its 140th anniversary this year. It is the oldest bar association in Alabama and one of the oldest in the United States.

Chambers and Partners released its 2008 ratings of law firms in the United States, and the firm of Helmsing, Leach, Herlong, Newman & Rouse, PC received a high rating. Chambers reports that, “This ‘high quality’ Mobile firm is recognized for its leading litigation practice with one source claiming: ‘You can’t get better lawyers in that area.’ It is the team of choice for top-notch litigation work in Mobile and is frequently referred to by its competitors.”

Chambers and Partners also gave high ratings to firm members Fred Helmsing and John Leach. Chambers reports that, “‘Experienced authority’ Frederick Helmsing practices in products liability, corporate and tax litigation; he is also recognized as being ‘highly skilled in the criminal arena’ and is ‘a phenomenal lawyer and a great guy’. John Leach is admired by peers for his ‘varied expertise at a high level’ and for being ‘universally respected by the bench and the Bar'”.

Frederick G. Helmsing, Sr. and John N. Leach have been included in the recently published list of Alabama Super Lawyers which was compiled through a multi-step evaluation process that incorporated peer recognition and professional achievement. In addition, John Leach received recognition as one of the top 50 Alabama lawyers who received the highest point totals in the 2008 Alabama Super Lawyers’ nomination, research, and blue ribbon review process.

The Alabama State Bar has selected Russell Buffkin as one of only two attorneys from Mobile to participate in the 2008 Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum. A total of only 30 lawyers were selected from across the state to become members of the forum.

John Leach became the President-elect of the Mobile Bar Association in January of 2008. John will continue to serve on the Executive Committee of the Mobile Bar Association in 2008 before taking office as President in 2009.

The Alabama Law Foundation elected John Leach as a Fellow in 2007. This honor is given to lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their profession and to their community, and it is limited to only 1% of the Alabama State Bar membership.

The Firm received a high ranking in the latest edition of CHAMBERS USA 2007, AMERICA’S LEADING LAWYERS FOR BUSINESS. According to Chambers, “This Mobile-based firm has a formidable reputation in Alabama. The team offers clients a full range of services although it is best known for its cutting edge litigation practice.” Fred Helmsing and John Leach were cited for recognition by Chambers, “Mobile native Fred Helmsing remains at the forefront of litigation work in Alabama, as does colleague John Leach.”

Defense Research Institute (DRI) Regional Director, Valerie Shea, awarded Alan Alexander the Exceptional Performance Citation at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA). The inscription on the award reads, “For having supported and improved the standards and education of the defense bar, and for having contributed to the improvement of the administration of justice in the public interest.”

Casey Pipes was named Co-Chair of the Programs Subcommittee for the ABA Section of Litigation’s Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Litigation Committee.